Retaining wall



Original Filed March 18, 1921 9 J M/ 9/ a P I 6 was, r

Reissuied Jan.27, 1925. S Re. 15,988

UNITED STATES PATENT TAGGAR'I ASTON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

RETAINING WALL, BULKHEAD, WHARF WALL, AND THE LIKE.

Original No. 1,392,616, dated October 4, 1921, Serial No. 453,331, filedMarch 18, 1921. Application for reissue filed October 2, 1923. SerialNo. 666,199.

To all whom it may concern: back wall, in which the weight of the super-Be it known that I, TAGGART AsroN, a imposed fill adds to the stabilityof the citizen of the United States, and a resident structure. In short,my invention tends to of Portland, county of Multnomah and overcome theusual'disadvantages and un- State of Oregon, have invented a new andcertainties of the smooth or plane sloped 60 useful Improvement inRetaining \Valls, wall, by stepping said wall into horizontal Bulkheads,Wharf Walls, and the like, of and vertical sections, so as to consideronly which the following is a specification. the direct horizontal andverticalpressures The object of my invention is to provide of the fill,and disregard the friction bea type of bulb-head or retaining wall intween the fill and the surface of the wall. 6 which maximum economy isattained by The amount ofthis friction is always more limiting theamounts of both back-filling or less unknown, and may be so small thatmaterial and structural material involved superimposed fill will exertconsiderable in the wall itself to such proportions or Wedging actionagainst a smooth walL quantities as will suflice for the stability ofSuch wedging action I eliminate by the the structure with due allowancefor the stepped-down construction of my wall above unit working stressesand foundation presmentioned. a sures or pile loads. 7 Furthermore bycombining with the said To attain the above object, I provide a steppedwall a support consisting of pile 20 special type of bulk-head orretaining wall and light frame bents, in which only a in which theweight of every cubic foot of nominal amount of capping andcross-bracback-filling material superimposed on the ing is required torender the substructure structure is utilized to the utmostadvansufliciently rigid and stable for resisting tage, in eflicientlystabilizing the structure lateral forces-particularly the outwardagainst the horizontalpressure exerted by force due to the horizontalthrust of the the embankment or fill; and, at the same embankment, Iprovide a retaining wall not time providing a structure wherein onlyonly structurally safe, but also one more that amount of back-fillingmaterial is economical than other skeleton or open superimposed as isnecessary to provide the types. 30 mass, or weight, required to renderthe The spacing of the bents and size of piles 5 structure staticallystable under the exterand cross members are entirely matters of nalforces considered. structural design and will of course vary I furtherattain my object by roviding with the total height of the wall and the atype of structure which in itsel contains character of the embankmentmaterial. 5 no more structural material than is necessary It is furthermy object to provide a strucno t t i th fi11, a d tra smit the verticalture that will permit the use of concrete as and horizontal pressures ofthe sa e to the the construction material to compete more fo ndatiowithout overstressing any orclosely as to cost with structures builttion of the structure. By my invention the Wholly or partly of timber.4o necessary Weight or mass is practically all It is further my objectto provide a provided by the superimposed fill, which is structure thatwill consist of a series of ordinarily much cheaper in cost than thesmall stepped down vertical retaining walls structural material. andhorizontal relieving platformsv in which My i vention als r vid o y bythe small retaining walls also serve as-gird 45 minimizingthe'foundation pressure, espeers or abutments to support the relieving10H cially that directly under the toe of the platforms nextsuperimposed; and also, by structure, where foundation pressure, underreason of being stepped down in series, to I the usual types ofretaining walls, dams, or afford a total combined cross sectional area,bulk-heads, is frequently excessive, and and cost materially less thanif only one 50 requires the footings to be extended, and high retainingwall and one relieving platthe structure as a whole given uneconomicalform had been provided to contain the proportions in order that the safeunit superimposed filling. foundation pressure be not exceeded. It isfurther my object to provide a struc- My invention furthermoreincorporates ture that will consist of a series of stepped 55 theadvantages of an inclined apron or down retaining walls and relievingplatformsof-reinforced concrete thattcan be castor molded inconvenientlengths or units prior to being placed on the substructure of pile orframe bents, .which latter, could also be pre-cast for that portionabove low water and superimposed and cast or molded to join with thepiles after the latter-had been placed in position."

I attain these objects -With the'structure:

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, llIWlllGlP- Fig. 1 'isavertical cross section of arpreferred form of my invention appliediin".the construction of i a wharf;

F igs; 2 and 3 are verti 'cal cross-sections of optional constructionsof the horizontal sections or relieving platforms Fig-.A is a sectional"view-of Fig: 3'taken on the-line A'A-, and I Fig. 5 is a longitudinal,vertical sectlon ofanother optional form of 'the relieving platforms.

1, 1, 1 "and"1 are the vertical members of the sectional StGPp8d-(lO-"Hbulkhead:

2, 2 2"; and 2are the relieving platfonms of said bulkhead.-

3, 3, 3 and 3 are counterfortsstrength ening members 1; 1", 1,- and -1 4andit are-upwardly projecting longrtudinal ribs alongthe outer edge ofplatforms'2and 2 'in- Figs. 1 and Q.

5, 5 are piles driven-into the ground, and adapted to support'thebulkhead, said piles are shown as being'made' of conciete. These piles.referably extend about three feet above 0w water.

6, is a moundor bulkheadiof-rubble beneath saidwharf and-around the-feetof piles ,5, the ridge of which rises to near low water :mark;

7, Tare longitudinal ribs-on'thebottom of relieving platforms 2, in Fig;-1 projecting downwardly to engage with notchesin bents'8;

8, 8 are the bentsof the structure mounted on the piles" 5, and areshown as integral therewith.

9, 9 are longitudinal struts connecting and bracing bents 8.' All themembers ofsaid structure are preferably .made'of reinforced concrete;

10 is sheeting fastened tothe innerrow of piles and bearing,on-therubble'bulkhcad and on the lowest relieving platform 2.

11, 11 are transverse ribs onthe lower side of relieving platforms 2%shown lll F 2.

. 12 is a Wharf floor, or fill superimposed behind the bulkhead;

13, 13 are longitudinal strengthening ribs on the lower side s'ofrelieving. platforms-2", shown in'F-igs. 3 and 4.

14 is a transverse strengthening rib on'the lower side ofrelieving'platform 2 shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

15 indicates Water in frontof the bulkhead in the wharf structure andlfitis the ground, as naturally formed;

The stepped-down bulkhead is preferably molded in L-shaped unitsconsisting of a vertical member and a horizontal member.

These units are mounted in place,'engaged with the bents 8 and bear oneach other, the steps being; arranged to'progress down wardlytowards-therear edge or heel of the structure. which are in contactare pieferablycemented togetl'ier: witlr cement gro'utingr Whencthe several steps arethus mounted andtcemente'd together, ab ulkhead is hadavhich. .notionbis well able -to resist forces acting: against the front ofthe wall,but: also :is. well. able to bear the weight of the'e-lement115"retainedbehind the wall, together withs the load that mayfr'om time to time beplaced on thetop-oftheelement retained o-non the floor surface 12. Asisreadily understood, it is not necessary that the-steps be premast'.The structures: as: shown: are preferably connected into a-single unitforming a lighi: and inexpensive structure, whichfiswvelll adapted toresist any forces acting. against its front, as well asthoseresultingsfrom the weight of the element retained?behind: thebulkheads and any load supportedrithereby.

The pressure resulting from+the weight of any givenquantitycfthe-element: re tained by the steppeddown: bulkhead: issupported bythe :relie ving pla'tformdilteetly underneath. That is, Ihave arranged these relieving'platforms in steps which support thecolumn of retainedelement: dinectl Y aboveit and these steps arearranged horrzontallytopresent a surface normal to'cthe load? Thesesteps areconnected-byvertical memberswhich are integral with the lowerstep and connected the-reto at theirbottom edges.

Any tendency; of the retained element: to move horizontally 1 againstthe bulkhead is cheekedby-any or all of these vertical-sections; This--'horizontal force against these vertical members tends to overturn"each unit about the corner formed by the juncture of the horizontal andvertical portions and this tendency to overturnis-coum teracted by the'force exerted by the Weight of" the elementretain'ed' on' eachrelieving platform. The force exerted by the weight of the'-ele1nentretained is usually greater than the tendency of the retained element toshift laterally but to provide. annangin of'sa-fety, I preferably mak'ethe-reli'evin platform slightly wider thannthe vertica member. Bytheabove method of construction of the stepped apron or bullheadfwallgthe latter though castnin sections, acts in its entiretytas auni't. i

If the: retained element; is earth cor: sand or other similar'shiftingsolid 'material'; as di'iferentiated wi-th water, I- pmvide the Thesurfaces of the steps longitudinal rib 4 on the outer edge of therelieving platform which extends upwardly for the relieving platformwhich requires the actual displacement of the entire column of fillbefore the horizontal force attains the ascendency.

The counterforts 3 are provided to connect and strengthen the relievingplatforms relatively with their vertical members so as to prevent afracture at their jointure caused by the tendency of the retainedelement to shift laterally.

I claim:

1. A structure of the character described comprising an opensubstructure consisting of piles driven into the ground, and framebentsmounted on said piles, and a bulkhead wall comprising a plurality ofsteps extending down rearwardly and supported by said frame bents, thesubstructure adapted to support the steps of said wall againsthorizontal and vertical eluding cross bracing and longitudinal bracing,the steps of said wall arranged to locate the centre of mass of thefilling material over the rear portion of the wall.

2-. A structure of the character described comprising an opensubstructure consisting of piles driven into the ground, and framebentsmounted on said piles, and a bulkhead wall composed ofa plurality ofprecast sections arranged in steps extending downward and rearward, thesubstructure adapted to support the steps of said wall againsthorizontal and vertical pressures and including cross bracing andlongitudinal bracing, the steps of said wall being adapted to locate thecentre of mass of the filling material over the rear portion of thewall.

3. A structure of the character described comprising an opensubstructure consisting of piles driven into the ground, and framebentsmounted on said piles, and a bulkhead wall composed of a plurality ofsections each composed of horizontal and vertical integral members, saidsections arranged in steps extending downward and therefrom and thusforms a cupped surface pressures and in rearward with the outer edge ofthe horizontal member of one section supported on the vertical member ofan adjacent section, the substructure arranged to conform with andsupport the horizontal and vertical members of said steps bracing andlongitudinal bracing, the steps of said wall being adapted to locate thecentre of mass of the filling material over the rear portion of thewall.

a. A structure of the character described comprising an opensubstructure consisting of piles driven into the ground, and framebentsmounted on said piles, and a bulkhead wall composed of a plurality ofsections each composed of horizontal and vertical integral members, saidsections arranged in steps extending downward and rearward with theouter edge of the horizontal member of one section supported on thevertical member of an adjacent section, upstanding ribs provided on theouter edges of said horizontal members, the substructure arranged toconform with and support the horizontal and vertical members of saidsteps and including cross bracing and longitudinal bracing, the steps ofsaid wall being adapted to locate the centre of mass of the fillingmaterial over the rear portion of the wall.

5. A structure of the character described comprising an opensubstructure consisting of piles driven into the ground and framebentsmounted on said piles, and a bulkhead wall composed of a pluralitv ofrecast sections each composed of horizontal and vertical integralmembers, said sections arranged in steps extending downward and rearwardwith the outer edge of the horizontal member of one section supported onthe vertical member of an adjacent section, the. substructure arrangedto conform with and support the horizontal and vertical members of saidsteps, and including cross-bracing bracing, the steps of said wall beingadapt-- ed to locate the centre ofmass of the filling material over therear portion of the Wall.

TAGGART ASTON.

and including cross and longitudinal

